President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a high-stakes, hour-long telephone conversation on Wednesday, securing a preliminary agreement for China to significantly increase purchases of American soybeans and energy while navigating a minefield of geopolitical tensions.
The discussion, described by Trump as "long and thorough", comes at a critical juncture for the world’s two largest economies. The call occurred just hours after President Xi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and only one day before the expiration of the New START nuclear treaty between the United States and Russia.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump hailed the exchange as "all very positive", emphasising that his personal relationship with President Xi remains "extremely good". Trump revealed that Beijing is considering a major hike in agricultural imports, aiming for 20 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans this season and a commitment for 25 million tonnes next season.
Beyond agriculture, the leaders discussed the potential for China to pivot its energy consumption toward American oil and gas. Trump also noted that the conversation touched on military matters, aeroplane engine deliveries, and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran.
The White House has been pressuring Beijing to isolate Tehran, threatening a 25% tariff on countries that continue to do business with the Iranian regime. This pressure coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme following recent regional escalations.
"The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realize how important it is to keep it that way," Trump wrote. He expressed confidence that "many positive results" would be achieved during the remainder of his term.
However, official readouts from Beijing maintained a more cautious tone, particularly regarding the status of Taiwan. According to China’s state news agency, Xinhua, President Xi reiterated that the Taiwan question is the "most important issue" in the bilateral relationship. Xi warned that China will "never allow Taiwan to be separated" and urged the U.S. to handle arms sales to the island with "great prudence".
Despite the friction over Taiwan, Xi expressed a desire for stability. "I value China-U.S. relations very much," Xi said, according to the Chinese readout. He used a nautical metaphor, telling Trump he hoped to "lead a big ship of China-U.S. relations with you in the new year and move forward stably to do more big and good things."
The call also served as a roadmap for upcoming diplomatic engagements. Trump announced he is looking forward to an official visit to Beijing in April 2026. While the Chinese statement mentioned opportunities for the leaders to meet during upcoming global summits, it stopped short of explicitly confirming the April date.